Universe's End

“I’ve got an idea,” Rory said, shooting upright as Eia’s head raised, looking down at Rory, who was resting on Eia’s coiled body like a beanbag chair.

“And?”

Snapping his fingers, several golden circles appeared, as circular saw-like projections slowly manifested.

“So, these are probably some of my most advanced projections because I take extra effort in using higher-grade pneuma in the projection effort. They last far longer and even operate semi-autonomously.”

As if to prove a point, the projected chakrams began to whirl overhead, like a flock of seagulls. Except inanimate. And metal. And not birds.

So not like seagulls at all.

“And your idea is?”

“What if I created some overlapped items?”

“Overlapped?”

“Yeah, like, I construct a framework of physical material, and then I fill in the rest with projection. In theory, it can be more advanced than any regular projection.”

“Why not simply craft the full item then?”

“Modularity,” Rory said. “But a good question nonetheless, and the reason I don’t think I considered it much until now. I can fling projections around like projectiles, but my ability to manipulate physical items is far less. I can still launch them and direct them to some extent-”

“But to a limit.”

“Bingo,” Rory said. “But if I make the framework of a weapon out of skybound materials, add some runes, then fill them in with projections? Presto!”

“Is this really the best idea you could come up with?”

“No, not at all,” Rory snorted. “But my fortress project needs time that I don’t have, and I’m still not quite there with skybound chanting to really feel ready. Then there is the Project X-”

“Project X?”

“That’s what I’m calling it. My super-secret idea for super murder.”

“A weapon, just explained most childishly.”

“Let me have my fun,” Rory sighed. He was purposely being coy and childish about that project because it kept his mind from focusing on what he wanted it for.

Killing his Bane. For good.

Thoughts of his Bane were like a dose of venom through his veins, and so Rory quickly pushed them aside until he was ready to handle that one.

“Anyway, Project X is also in the works, but much like the fortress project, it needs a lot of time and some materials to be ready.”

“And your armor?”

“Another bit of a weird case,” Rory said. “Managing to increase the grade of the scales from the Tyrant of Earth and Scales to Aberrant Grade from Rare is probably close to a one in a million stroke of luck. Whether it's that specific of a rarity also needs to take into consideration variables outside of the regular norms, but as I-”

“I understand your point, don’t get off track.”

“Right, right,” Rory nodded. “My point being, on paper, could I make better armor? Yes, by a large margin. But the sheer significance of the materials used carries the armor; it's stronger than it should be. I have ideas for my next set of armor, drawn from my prior work on Kai Rong’s equipment and Apostolos’s Daybreak armor, but they're not yet fully developed. I’m thinking I can probably stretch out the usage of my current armor until tier nine.”

“It never ceases to amuse me how you swing between manic focus and laissez-faire attitude regarding your projects.”

“Call it the wisdom of aging,” Rory snorted. “When I was younger, I felt the desperate need to have gear to survive, because I didn’t have much else going for me. I’d have to be blind not to understand how things have changed. A project to create new armor isn’t because the armor is an absolute necessity; it's my own interest. Anyway, the better the gear, the more I need to punch up to compensate for the increased ease from stronger equipment. Case in point, if I offered to make you some personal snake-sized equipment to make your life easier, would you accept?”

“No. What is the point in hunting if it is made even easier than it already is?”

“Exactly. The only exceptions are when facing enemies that specifically require my best.”

“Such as a territory alpha.”

“Correct,” Rory agreed, before briefly frowning. “Mostly. Even they can be rendered ineffective if planned properly.”

The Thunderous Lord had been a perfect example of a monster that normally would have been too strong for even a founder to best in one-on-one combat in most situations. Double the founders and add in an overwhelming first strike, though, and the terrifying might of a territory alpha was still slaughtered with little chance to resist.

Though in fairness, can’t exactly have Rods from God armed for any given fight…. Unless? Actually, wait, let's not get ahead of ourselves for now.

“So, these new chakrams are your entertainment until you have more downtime or a bigger fight to prepare for.”

“See, you understand,” Rory said, snapping his fingers as the projected chakrams buzzing around vanished.

“And the reason you’re lounging around right now is…?”

“I’m avoiding their festivities. They’re currently celebrating the downfall of the Thunderous Lord, but honestly, it wasn’t a big enough deal for me to pat myself on the back. Same with Zoey, she decided to wander the forest floor below. I don’t even think she is doing anything, probably just meandering around.”

“Understandable. Well, if you wouldn’t mind keeping the volume down, I’m going back to napping.”

“Sorry for waking you up,” Rory said as the oversized snake lowered her head, wrapping herself back up into a tight ball as Rory stared up into the night sky, keeping to himself on his own private asteroid ‘island.’

Tomorrow, let’s see if we can hammer it out in a single day.

“I’m not sure why I’m here,” Analissa said, looking somewhat confused.

“Learning opportunity,” Rory said as if it were that simple.

“But, I do inscription.”

“Uh-huh,” Rory nodded.

Unlawfully taken from NovelFire, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“And you said no apprentices.”

“Uh-huh,” Rory repeated.

“And you said-”

“Uh-huh,” Rory repeated once more, cutting her off. “Learn.”

With that finalized, Rory began working, showing off to his audience of one.

In truth, Rory had invited her for one reason, and one reason only: both her inscription skill and her vocation had evolved. No longer was she saddled with the base ‘Runic Inscription’ skill or ‘Runic Inscriptionist’ vocation. No, it had become something quite a bit more compelling.